Nicole, her mind racing, tried to remember everything she had learned from the humans she had encountered in the forest. She had heard them speaking a language that sounded different from the guttural growls and clicks of the creatures she had lived with. She had even learned a few words, enough to understand the basics.
Before she could say anything else, a knock came at the door. "Mr. Eun," a voice called out. "It's Lee."
Seokjin nodded. "Come in."
The door opened, and a young man, dressed in a black uniform, entered the room. He was carrying a small bag, and he smiled politely at Seokjin.
"Assistant Guild Master," he said. "I brought some things for the little one."
The PA, Lee, laid out the contents of his bag on the bed. There were a few small dresses, a pair of pants, and a soft, pink towel.
"You did well," Seokjin said, nodding to Lee. "Thank you."
Lee bowed slightly and then left, closing the door behind him.
Seokjin finished drying his face and then stood next to the bed, looking down at Nicole. She was still staring at the clothes, her eyes wide with wonder. He noticed that she was wearing a tattered, dirty tunic, and he knew that she needed to be cleaned up.
He sat down on the edge of the bed and asked, "Can I help you shower?" He spoke in Korean, hoping that she would understand.
Nicole looked down for a while, her brow furrowed in thought. "He's talking to me," she thought. "I think maybe he's trying to ask me something."
Her eyes gazed upon the cute blue and red dresses and the pink towel on the foot of the bed for a while. Then she looked back into Seokjin's eyes and pointed at the clothes. "Are those... for me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. She spoke in English, hoping that he would understand. She had never spoken to another human in so long, and the words felt foreign to her own ears.
Seokjin felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had been worried about her, about how she would adapt to the world outside the dungeon. He had been wondering how he would communicate with her, how he would help her. And now, she had spoken, she had spoken in English, a language that he knew, a language that he could understand. He felt a blush creep up his cheeks, a sense of happiness that he couldn't explain.
He composed himself and smiled. "Oh, you can speak English?" he asked, his voice warm and friendly. He switched to English, the language that she was finally familiar with, the language that was known to all humans, the language that was taught in all schools around the world.
Nicole nodded, her cheeks flushing a faint pink. She had never spoken to another human in so long, and the feeling of being understood, of being able to communicate with someone, brought a warmth to her heart that she had almost forgotten.
"Would you like me to assist you with your showers?" Seokjin asked gently, his eyes filled with concern. He knew that she must be exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and he wanted to make sure that she was comfortable.
Nicole nodded again, her eyes downcast. A faint smile played on her lips as she thought about her family. She missed the feeling of being cared for, the feeling of being loved. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to be a child, to be innocent, to be vulnerable. She remembered her parents taking turns to help her wash, their gentle hands guiding her through the process, their voices soothing her fears. She missed them dearly, but she knew that they were gone, lost in the depths of the dungeon.
Seokjin felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had been worried about her, about how she would adapt to the world outside the dungeon. He had been wondering how he would communicate with her, how he would help her. And now, she had spoken, she had spoken in English, a language that he knew, a language that he could understand. He felt a blush creep up his cheeks, a sense of happiness that he couldn't explain.
He composed himself and smiled. "Oh, you can speak English?" he asked, his voice warm and friendly. He switched to English, the language that she was finally familiar with, the language that was known to all humans, the language that was taught in all schools around the world.
Nicole nodded, her cheeks flushing a faint pink. She had never spoken to another human in so long, and the feeling of being understood, of being able to communicate with someone, brought a warmth to her heart that she had almost forgotten.
"Would you like me to assist you with your showers?" Seokjin asked gently, his eyes filled with concern. He knew that she must be exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and he wanted to make sure that she was comfortable.
Nicole nodded again, her eyes downcast. A faint smile played on her lips as she thought about her family. She missed the feeling of being cared for, the feeling of being loved. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to be a child, to be innocent, to be vulnerable. She remembered her parents taking turns to help her wash, their gentle hands guiding her through the process, their voices soothing her fears. She missed them dearly, but she knew that they were gone, lost in the depths of the dungeon.
Seokjin led Nicole to the bathroom, a small, clean room with a shower stall and a vanity mirror. He helped her onto a small stool, her small frame dwarfed by the white tiles. He turned on the water, letting it warm up before gently washing her hair and body. Nicole closed her eyes, her body relaxing as the warm water washed away the dirt and grime of the dungeon.
After rinsing her, Seokjin helped her out of the shower and dried her with a soft, fluffy towel. He then used a hair dryer to dry her hair, and Nicole seemed to enjoy the experience, kicking her legs in the air and smiling as the warm air blew through her hair.
"Which outfit would you like to wear?" Seokjin asked, gesturing to the clothes that were laid out on the bed.
Nicole looked at the clothes for a moment, her eyes lingering on a long-sleeved, blue dress with delicate lace and ribbons. It was a beautiful dress, a dress that she had never seen before, a dress that made her feel like a princess. She pointed at the dress, her heart fluttering with anticipation.
Seokjin smiled and helped her into the dress, adjusting the ribbons and smoothing out the lace. She looked beautiful, like a delicate flower that had just bloomed.
They headed to the Guild car, a sleek black sedan that was waiting for them outside. The journey to Seoul was long, a full day by bullet train. Nicole fell asleep on Seokjin's arm, her head resting on his shoulder. She felt safe and secure in his arms, a feeling that she had almost forgotten.
The Guild members, who were also on the train, whispered among themselves, their eyes darting between Seokjin and Nicole.
"Aren't they suddenly too close?" one of them whispered, her voice laced with concern. "Is that the same child we encountered in the dungeon? Her clothes have changed. Is she really a human or a monster?"
"I heard that she wields a scythe," another Guild member said, his voice hushed. "They say she uses the power of darkness, that she's almost like a reaper."
"Is our Assistant Guild Master planning to raise her?" a third Guild member asked, his voice filled with curiosity. "I mean, what's going on? Why is he so protective of her?"
Seokjin heard their whispers, but he didn't react. He knew that they were curious, that they were worried, but he also knew that he couldn't tell them anything. He had to protect Nicole. He had seen the darkness that she held within, the power that she possessed, and he knew that she needed someone to guide her, to protect her, to keep her from being used by those who would exploit her. He placed his hand over her resting body, a gesture of silent reassurance.